Automatic conveying system



July 13 1926. 1,592,310

' T. NEWELL AUTOMATIC CONVEYING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 15 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 I/VI E/VTOR July 13, 1926. 1,592,310

T. NEWELL AUTOMATI C CONVEYING SYSTEM //v VE/VTOR July '13 1926. 1,592,310

. T. NEWELL 7 AUTOMATIC CONVEYING SYSTEM W Y fiTTOR/VEV July 13, 1926. 1,592,310

T. NEWELL AUTOMATIC CONVEYING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 15. 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 .FI g.4

INVENTOR mw/y/wm/ July 13 1926. 1,592,310

T. NEWELL AUTOMATIC CONVEYING SYSTEM Filed Feb: 15. 1923. a Sheets-Sheet s 7 O NW July 13,1926. I 1,592,310

- T. NEWELL AUTOMATIC CONVEYING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 15 1:323 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 I IQQ 5 -9 INVENTO'R E 77/7702? Mwel/ HTTORNEY July 13,1926. 1,592,310 T. NEWELL AUTOMATIC CONVEYING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 15. 1923 8 sheets shfit a INVENTOI? T/maf Nerve/l Patented July 13, 1926.

PATENT lorries.

TIMOTHY NEWELL, OF YAKI'MA, \VASI-IINGTON.

AUTOMATIC CONVEYING *SYSTEIE.

Application filed. February 15, 1;923. Serial No. 619,237.

The invention is a conveying system through which various types of merchandise may be .conveyed from a common'point to their respective sections which may be in any desired positions from the starting point and through which the merchandise or the trays for carrying it may be returned to the starting point.

The object of the invention is to provide a 'conveyer which will handle merchandise of various types and designs in which the merchandise may be transferred to. cross .conveyers and from which the merchandise may .be elevated to any desired number of floors.

Another object of the invention is to provi de a .conveyer which will carry trays upon I which any desirable type or size'ot' merchandise may be placed and which when elevating the trays will keep them horizontal.

And a further object of the invention is to provide switches for a conveyer by which trays on the conveyer may be picked'up and carried to one side or raised.

And a still further object of the invention is to provide suitable-projections on trays for a conveyor which will engage triggers and operate the switches.

VV-ith these ends in view the invention embodies a double chainconveyer in which the chains rest in idlers and in which are trays which ride upon the chains. The conveyer is provided with switches that are automatically operated by projections on the trays which engage triggers or levers that are connected to the switches and these switches pick the trays up from the 'main convcyer and carry them to one side or raise them to any desired height. The conveyers are also so constructed that they may bend around a corner with a very small radius and they are also provided with a means for feeding the trays back down on the con veyer from the'elevated position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following d'e-' scription taken in connection with drawings. wherein Figure 1 is diagrammatic view showing shown in Figure 2.

vF-igureB is a plan view of the switch Figure 4 is a cross section through the switch shown in ldigu-re 2. I

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the trays. Figure 6 is a plan view of a horizontal switch.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the horizontal switch.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the corner. Figure 9 is an elevation showing the inclined conveyer that drops trays, on the main conveyor.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a door through which trays may be loaded and unloaded.

Figure 11 is a cross section showing the means for lifting the trays at the door.

Figure 12 is a cross section through the conveyer.

Figure 13 is a detail showing the means for operating the signals.

In the drawings I have shown my 0011- veyer .as it would be arranged wherein numeral lindicates the trays, numerals 2 and 3- the conveyer chains, and numeral 4t the idlers, y

The trays may be constructed as shown in Figures 2 and 13 and may have lugs 5 on their sides adjacent the rear end by which they may be gripped when being carried up an incline, hoo is 6 in their-Ont ends which may hook over bars between the inner chains when traveling up a vertical conveyer, and

operate the switch for which they are set.

The main conveying elements 2 and 3 maybe any desirabletype of chain, belts. ropes orcables and may be of any suitable length orsize. They will pass over a head policy 8. at one .end which may be driven by a pulley 9 from counter-shaft or it is understood that the conveyor may be driven byan individual motor troinany desirable means; --A .llmlelJllilBy,1(l may be mounted,

is provided slack in the in any suitable bracket which with means tor taking up the he chains 9 and :3 rest upon idlers 4- vhich should he spaced continuously alongthe conveyor and the distance between them should be somewhat shorter than the length of the trays.

The switch shown in Figure 2 may he used to picl: trays up or? tlr conveyor and place them in a stationary position aho i the convey r or may to d them onto 1 vertical elevator as shown in the first position which I have indicated by the letter A in Figure i. This switch is construc'ed as shown with chains 11 and 12 on the sides ot the cinreyer which are driven from a shaft 13 which shat t may he driven by a pulley l-l ole These chains then and l5 in the downwarcl to the o atahl z mounted on mounted in a e bracket 20 that pivotally niou ed on the shaft 21 upon which are also the The bracket 20 l as sprockets l5. 1 n arm 2? pivotally connected to it and this arm is pivotally connected at the point 23 to an 2% of the lever Below the arm 2st is a cylinder L6 the piston ot' which is connected o the arm 24: through the rot 27 and as this cylinziler is provided with a very small its lower end for the air to l the downward niolever 34 which in he? 'l'rom a brac t a on too frame and which has a projociion which projects up ard under the path o. the trays so that one or". the projections 7 on the front of the trays may engage it. "h lever 3; is

heir in the position shown by he spring- 3 and when one of the projections 7 on the rat ot one ot' the trays strikes it it will engage the lever 36, more it downward and d aw the bar 2:31 hack Yard so that the projection 25) will drop oil of the lug 530 and permit the char ll and to drop lowiward the position shown in tull lines on the outside of the conveyor.

On t e sha' t 13 is also another pair of pulleys S8 and 39 over l which helts it) ant all may pass and these belts also pass over pulleys if on a chatt 43 which is supported in a frame 4-4 that is pivot-all; mounted on the shaft and this frame moves upward and downward a similar manner to that the fame 20 and is operated from the same lever through the arm 45, the bar 46 rue the arm l? of the lever- 25; and as the to those shown in dotted lines. It will be seen that only the trays set so that their projections 1 ate the s It vill also be seen that as the tray 1 moves forward the hooks 6 on its forward end will i rods on he belts L0 anc 41 and jectioi'is will engage teeth 50 on the e rZlIlSECl to any desired position i r horizontal. This means s tor raising trays from the n am. convey r and feeding them to a vertical. elevator as shown in the position A in Figure 1.

As the tray arrives at the end of the upper elevation shown in Figure 2 the projection 7 strike a lever 51 which is connected to an arm on the end of which is a Sigma 53 which may be of any suitable type; and as it. moves forward it ill move the lever from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines and this will move the signal 531 from the horizontal to the vertical position. It is understood that this signal may he oi. any desired color or may have any des red character on it or may have a light enillt l ed in it so that it may call attention to any one in the vicinity and notify them that a tray has arrived at that point. It will be seen that this will. be particularly useful for hotels or restaurants as the signal may he placed on the inside of the wall and a vaitcr or person in the room will he notitied when the '1 n has arrived.

l lQjlU'QS and lC-l lhave shown another type 01 signal with an electric contact that lay light a light or rin a bell In this design which is more clearv shown in Figy strike a contact the contact point 55 against t will be seen that as the over the first raise 57 in op into the notch at act will he broken and then as it engages lie second raise 59 it will aoain make a contact so that a double signal iv be given. It is understood that the bar r pass the her it will d which ti n may be 01. any desired length and may have desired number of raises and notches m it so that it wlll be possible to lLL I the bell any desired number 01 tunes:

and it will also be seen that some of these raises may be long and some short so that 11;

lOtl

will he possible to obtain different combinations of long and short rings in order to get a large number of varied signals.

In F igs..6 and 7 I have shown an elevation ofa horizontal switch which may be pivot ally mounted upon a shaft 60 which may also contain idlers 4: upon which the main conveyerchains 2 and 3 run. A pulley 61 .may also bemounted on this shaft as shown in Figure 6 so that the shaft maybe driven from a counter shaft or any desired means. The frame consists of a straight member 62 and two cpiadra-circular members 63 and (Sat in which idler shafts 65 may be mounted; and on the inner endof these shafts are gears 66 which mesh with idler gears 67 and form a continuous train of gears which will drive the shafts 65. The idlers 67 are mounted on stub shafts 68 and these are rotatably mounted in the frame 63. On the inner ends of the shafts 65 and on the inside of the frame are rollers 69 and onthe outer ends of these shafts are rollers 70 which are of a: larger diameter than the rollers 69; as the frame is raised to the posi tion shown in full lines in Figure 7 and a tray arrives at this position it will travel around the corner on the rollers 69 and 70. As therollers 70 have a larger-diameterthan the rollers 69 their circumferential speeds will be greater and therefore the outside of the tray will move faster than the inside so that they will readily turn the corner. This frame may be pivotally supported in stands 71 and may have a counter weight 72 on the opposite side ofthe stand to assist in raising it.

The switch frame shown in Figures 6 and 7 normally rests in the position shown in dotted lines and. when a tray arrives at the position shown one of the projections 7. on it will engage the upper end of a lever 73 which is pivoted in a bearing 7% on the lower side of the conveyer frame. A bar 75 is pivotally attached to the lower end of the lever 73 and the opposite end of the bar is connected to a lever 76 that is pivotally mounted in a bearing 77 on a frame. The

opposite end of the lever 76 is connected to a lever 78 and this is connected to the side 64 of the switch frame. It will be seen that as the lever 73 is moved forward from the position shown in dotted line to the position shown in full line the switch frame will move from the position shown in dotted line to that shown in full lines: and when it arrives in this position it will be locked by a latch 7 9 as shown in Figure 7. It will remain in thisposition until the tray has passed over the switch and onto an auxiliary conveyer in which is a switclrsimilar to that shown in Figure 9 which will close a circuit and operate the solenoid 80 which will draw the lever 79 away-from the frame ,andpermitthe frame to drop to -he dotted position. Between the "solenoid and the lever is a spring 81 which will hold the lever against the frame and allow it to move toward the solenoid as the frame moves upward.

At the far side of the switch is a shaft 82 which maybe the tail shaft of the auxiliary conveyer and may have pulleys or sheaves 83 011 it over which the chains of the conveyer may pass. This conveyer may be constructed similar to the main conveyer and may be driven from it or by any suitable means. 7

In Figure 8 I have shown a view similar to that shown in Figure 6 which illustrates a turn or corner in the main conveyer. It will be seen that the frame is similar to the frame of the switch except that it is stationary. The frame is constructed. of two quadratircular members Set and 85 which" have shafts 86 between them similar to the shafts 6,5 and on these shafts aresmall rollers 87 and large rollers 88 which carry the trays'around the corner. The shafts are driven by a train of gears 89 from a shaft 90 which may be driven from a counter shaft by a pulley 91 or from the main conveyer. It will be seen that the main conveyer chains pass over the pulleys 92 and under pulleys so that they will be under the frame.- They then pass around horizontal pulleys 94C and 95 and then under the pulleys 96and over the pulleys'971after which they will be in'ethe same elevation as those of the main conveyer. It will be seen that as the trays arrive at this point the large rollers will move the outsideofthe trays faster than veyer, which element-is similar to that here- 1 a v moerore described and shown in Figure 2 and which is supported in the frame 4-41 Aframe 161 isalso mounted upon .the shaft 98'and this frame has pulleys 102 on its lower end over which the chains also pass. At the upper end of this frame is a projection 103 upon which is a counter weight 104: which holds the frame in the position shown in dotted lines until a tray starts down the incline at which time the weight of .the tray causes the frame to more clownward to the position shown in full llllQS.

In frontof the shaft 98 is another shaft 105 and in front of this shaft isanother shaft106 which ,formsthe upper end ofanother; inclined section which is similar to the sectionin the frame 101.: Another frame 1071s rotata'hly niou-nt-ed'on the shaft '106 and has pulleys 108 in its lower end over which are chains 109 and these chains also pass ov r pulleys 110 on the shaft 106 and pulleys 111 on the shaft 105 and are held upward by idlers 112. The chains on this section are on the outside of the conveyer and will engage the projections 5 on the sides oi the trays as shown in Fig. 3 as they are carrying the trays downward. This section is attached to the forward section through the bars 113 and 11 1 so that it will be raised and lowered with it.

' A bar 115 is pivotally attached to the frame 101 and also to a bar 110 which is pivoted in the conveyer frame in such a manner that as the frame 101 moves downward the free end 11? ot the bar 110 will move upward to the pos tion shown and stop a tray on the main conveyer. It will be seen that this will prevent a tray coming down the incline from landing on top of another tray of the main conveyer. soon as the tray passes oil from the incline the iirirline will rise to the position shown in dott d l ies and the ends 117 will move downward so that the tray that has ecu stopped by them may move forward and pass under the inclined portion 01' the conveyer.

An electric switch 118 may be placed in the main conveyer at any convenient point before the inclined portion so that as a tray passes over it it will light a lamp 119 that may be placed at the upper end of the incline so that an operator at the upper end of the inc-line may know when a tray on the main conveyer is approaching the incline. This switch may be constructed with a bar 120 which hasa member 121 pivotally attached to it and to the frame and also a spring 122 under it for holding it in the upper position. Below the contact point 121 is another contact point 123 through which a circuit may be completed as a tray passes over the bar 120. These points may be connected through the wires 12 1 and 125 and a battery 120 to the lamp 119, or to any desired type of signal which may be adja cent the upper end of the conveyer; and it will be seen that as the circuit is completed the lamp or signal will be lighted or oper ated.

In Figures and 11 I have shown a door or opening in the side of a passage in which the conveyer may be installed through which a tray may be taken from the con veyer and loaded or unloaded. At this point is also a platform 127 which is hinged at the point 128 to the side of the passage and on which are rollers 129 which are held in the stands 130. The door 131 which is hinged at the point 132 has rollers 133 and stands 13 1 on it similar to the rollers and stands129 and 130. The inner end or" the door 135 projects inward and as it moves upward engages the end of the platform 12? and raises it from the position shown in dotted lines to that shown in full lines so that when the door is open the rollers 129 will stop a tray on the main conveyer and the tray may as rolled along the rollers to the position shown in full lines in Figure 11. In this position a tray may be loaded or unloaded and then rolled back into the passage to the position shown in dotted lines. The door may then be closed and the platform 127 will move downward to the position shown in dotted lines and the tray will then be free to move along the main conveyer.

Any suitable signal may be used to inm a person outside of the door of the wage that a tray containing objects for iiem is approaching the door. The signal shown in Figure 13 is preferable as by it any desired combination of short or long rings may be obtained. The same switch may also be used to light lamps which may be of ditierent colors it desired.

it the int A shown in Figure 1 I have shown a vertical elevator to which trays may be fed by an inclined section as de scribed and shown in Figures 2 and 3. It will be seen that as the trays arrive at the lower end of the vertical section the hooks 6 will engage bars on the rear chains which are similar to the bars 19 on the inner section in the frame at shown in Figure 2.

it the same time the projections 5 on the sides of the trays will engage lugs on the outer chains which are similar to the lugs 50 shown in Figure 2 and the trays will then be raised to the top of the elevator. They will then be moved in the direction of the arrow at the top of the elevator by the lugs until they rest upon another horizontal conveyer which may be similar to the main conveyer. After the merchandise has been removed from the trays the empty trays may be placed on another conveyor and returned to another vertical elevator B which will run in a direction opposite to that of the elevator A so that the trays will move downward in it. hen they arrive at the lower end they may pass down an incline similar to that shown in Figure 9 which will teed them back to the main conveyer as herein before described. At position C I have shown an incline similar to that shown in Figures 2 and 3 which may also be used to raise trays of merchandise from the main conveyer to another horizontal conveyer above. This incline may be of any desired length and may be made in sections so that it may convey trays of material from one floor to another.

It will beunderstood that changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the design of the trays it is understood thesen' ay be of any 5 suitable dos and plain; other nia h switches as itisiinderstood these may be operated by any suitable mechanical or electrical means. And still another change may be in thearrangenient, as it is understood that any desired combination of the conveyers, elevators ors'wit'ches maybe used.

The construction fin te readily. under- 1 wit 1 -o'und or square corners with ridges around them; An

stood from the foregoing description. To-

use the'conveyer it may be installed as shown or in any desired combination of the difi'e'r ent parts and it will be see'n that as. the tray is placed on" one end of the conveyer it will move alonggtheconveyer'to the opposite end unless it ispicked up by some of the inclined sections or switches. ohandise is removed rom the traytlie tray may be placed onftheflower side of the conveyer shown in Figure land it will be returned to the-starting'point; As strays started on the conveye'r one of the projec tions 7 maybe'seti so tliatiitwill engage the lever operating thefs'witeh of the section'to will go to a different destination. It will also i been seen that these trays may move upward or downward or to either side as far as may be desired.

A return conveyer traveling in the opposite direction of the main conveyer may be installed at one side of the main conveyer upon which merchandise may be returned to the, starting point and another vertical elevator may be installed beside the elevator A whichmay be used to return trays of merchandise or empty trays to the lower elevation as down into the hold ofa ship. This arrangement may be preferable to that shown in Figure 1 which shows one elevator behind the other.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A. conveying system embodying a continuous double strand conveyer; a suitable frame having rollers in it to support the strands of the conveyer; trays that may be placed upon the strands having hooks on their forward ends, projections extending downward from their forward ends, and projections extending outward from their e in the means for operating the As the mersides at their rear ends; quadr'a-circular frames having small rollers O11 their inside and large rollers on their outside which are pivotally mounted under the conveyer; levers for raising the quadra-circular' frames that maybe operated by the projQCtlODS Oll the front of the trays; a latch for holding the frames in the upper position; asolenoid which is);operated-by an electric switch for releasing the latch; in chned port ons of the conveyer above the main conveyor, said" portions having their forward elements inside of the inainconveyer and their rear elements outside of the main" conveyer; suitable levers for raising and lowering the inclined section which may beloperated'from the projections on the nient of theconve'ying elements in the inclined conveyor, so that trays being elevated will be suspended from four points, two of which are by hooks ontlie front of the trays which engage rods across the rear elements and the other tv'vo ofwhich are projections from the sides of the rearof the trays which engage lugs on the forward elements; and

an inclined section having conveying elements inside of vthe main conveyer, and other elements outside of the main conveyer similar to the former inclined section, said latter section moving in such a direction that trays will move downward, having counterweights for raising it above the main conveyor and a latch for stopping trays on the main conveyer while it IS delivering trays to the main conveyei'.

2. A'conveyer having double continuous strands with rollers under them; switches automatically operated by projections on trays on the conveyer which will pick certain traysoif of the conveyer and place them on auxiliary conveyers; inclined conveyor sections above the main conveyer which norn'ially rest above the conveyer and which are operated by projections on trays on the conveyer so that they will move dowii- :ard and pick up tays from the conveyer:

vertical sections in which trays may be carried, said section's having four strands so that the trays will be supported from four points; other inclined sections by which trays may be returned to the main conveyer; a means for stopping trays on the main conveyer while the inclined section is delivering trays to it; a hinged plat-form having rollers onit which may be raised and lowered by opening and closing a door in the side of'theconveyer casing, said platform being so constructed that the rollers on it will rise above the level of the conveyer and pic; trays elf from it as the door is opened and replace them on it as the door is ClOSQCl; and si nals operated by the trays as they pass along the conveyer.

8. A continuous double chain conveyor having rollers under the chains; switches for removing trays oft from the main conveyer, said switches being operated by projections on the trays; inclined sections for oievating trays "from the conveyer, said sections being also operated by projections on the trays, other inclined sections with the direction of the chains reversed i'or returning trays to the conveyer; signals in the convcyer which are also operated by projections on the trays; and openings in the conveyor casing which are provided with means for raising trays oil of the conveyer and retru'ning them to it; and said conveyer having turns in it which are constructed with sections containing rollers, the outside rollers of which are of a larger diameter than the inside and said turns having suitable means for lowering the conveyer chains before the turn and for raising them after the turn and said chains being so constructed that they may pass around vertical pulleys in the turn.

i. A conveying system embodying a horizontal conveyer having continuous double chains; a vertical conveyer having four chains passing upward, the rear chains having rods between them and the forward chains having lugs on them; inclined conveyers for raising trays from the main convey'er, delivering them to the vertical conveyer or stationary points and for returning the trays to the main conveyer; said inclined conveyers being constructed so that they may be raised above the main con veyer or brought into engagement with it by automatic switches operated by projections on the trays; switches for removing trays from the main conveyor embodying rollers of different diameters which are arranged so that as the switches are brought into engagement with the main conveyer the trays will move off of the main conveyor and on to an auxiliary conveyer, said switches being operated by projections on the trays; and said conveyer having turns iii it in which are rollers of different diameters that are arranged so that as trays engage them they wiil pass around the corner and be placed on the chains of another conveyer.

TIMOTHY NEWELL. 

